Molecular Detection and Genetic Characterization of Peste des Petits Ruminant Virus in Punjab, Pakistan
Molecular Detection and Genetic Characterization of Peste des Petits Ruminant Virus in Punjab, Pakistan
Javeria1,2*, Mudasser Habib1,2 and Muhammad Salahuddin Shah1,2
ABSTRACT
Peste des petits ruminant (PPR) is a highly infectious viral disease affecting mainly small ruminants i.e. sheep and goats. It exerts socioeconomic impacts on livestock in the developing countries. The current study was designed to investigate the genetic relationships of the PPRV strains circulating in some districts of Punjab, Pakistan after detecting by PCR. Samples showing definite clinical signs, were collected from reported disease outbreaks and subjected to RT-PCR based on detecting the nucleoprotein (N) gene of the virus which showed 63% positivity rate in the collected samples. It has been shown, based on phylogenetic analysis, that the circulating strains were related to the viruses present within lineage IV with close relationship to the Asian and Middle Eastern isolates. Serologically, the competitive ELISA (cELISA) was used to test antibodies in the same animals which showed 50 % animals with PPRV specific antibodies. The high presence of the virus indicated the exposure of PPRV in animals where vaccination had not been practiced previously. The study also provides understanding of the frequent virus circulation and aids to adopt the suitable preventive procedures in the region.
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